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Maneesha & Namalgama

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Baha Men Move It Like this
By Sanath Weerasuriya
The ceartors of Bahamian music Baha Men is the star of this week's 'Original Music Competition', which is organised by M- Entertainment in collaboration with TV Times.
The Bahamian music and dance tradition of Junkanoo, which traces back to the slavery days when slaves were allowed to gather together one day a week for festivities, is fused with the modern influences of dance rhythms, pop music and Latin percussion by Isaiah Taylor and his band, The Baha Men.

According to "Billboard", the group "Straddles the line between Caribbean and western popuar music and does so while putting smiles on people's faces and a bounce in their steps."

Although their debut album, "Junkanoo", released in 1979, was heavily rooted in the Junkanoo style and featured updated versions of tradtional Bahamian tunes. The Baha Men have increasingly leaned towards modern music. Their second album, "I Like What I Like", was produced by Tommy D (Michael Jackson), Don Dubose, John Holiday and Trevor Steele (The Escape Club) with Holiday and Steel co-writing five songs with the band. The first single from the album was "That's The Way, Etc.", a medley of tunes by K. C. And The Sunshine Band.

The Baha Men continued their more contemporary approach with their third album, "Doong Spank", relased in 1999. Who Let the Dogs Out, featuring the Grammy winning single "Who Let the Dogs Out", was issued a year later. The album went on to sell over five million copies.

In early 2002, the Baha Men attempted for more Top 40 stardom by issuing the follow up, 'Move It Like This'. The Original CDs and Cassettes of this album "Doong Spank"are available at all M Entertainment preferred dealers. All winners of previous contests can collect their prizes from Maharaja Entertainment (Pvt) Ltd., at 330, T.B. Jayah Mw., Colombo 10.

To enter this contest, all you have to do is to answer the question on the coupon No.75 and send it to the address given below. The address is "Listen to Original Music Contest, No. 75, C/o Maharaja Entertainments (Pvt.) Ltd., 330, T. B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10.

Tell: + 941672425-8, Fax + 941699070. E Mail: me@lgo.lk All the entries must be originals from the TV Times and no photocopies or faxes will be entertained. All correct entries will be drawn by a panel of judges.

The entries should reach the above address by June 11, the latest. The decision of the judges will be final and the names of the winners will be announced in The Sunday TV Times accordingly.

Here are the winners of contest no. 71 . The winners of two Sony original CDs are Izrry Haniffa of Kandy and Sarani Perera of Kandana. Two audio cassette winners are Anushka Fernando of Nugegoda and Aroshan Fernando of Dehiwela.

10% off gift Vouchers go to Santushi Witanachchi of Nugegoda, C.D. Senevirathne of Mirigama, Randula Uvin Gunasena of Colombo 8, J. Lishantha De Silva of Ja-Ela, Prabath M. Perera of Wellampitiya and Lakshini Mendis of Dehiwela.

Posters winners are Tanya Hettiarachchi of Moratuwa, Chamal Sembupperuma of Boralasgamuwa, Janaka Abeysundara of Colombo 6, Sathya Udana Weerasinghe of Kaduwela and Miss T. Ossman of Kottawa.

Dharshan dances around the globe
Ballroom and Latin American dancing is now called Dancesport. Very soon it will be included in the Olympics too. There are many International Dancesport Championships around the world and Dancesport is not a new thing to Lankan dance enthusiasts.

Dharshan Wijesooriya, one of the popular figures in the field is the only Sri Lankan to officiate as an adjudicator at International Dancesport Competitions. Dharshan, the organizer of the Annual Footwork Dancesport Championship and a British qualified dance instructor has adjudicated 12 International Dance Competitions during the past 2 years.

He attended three International Competitions in Singapore and Hong Kong last month. He has received invitations to adjudicate at the Malaysian International in July and at Singapore International in September this year. The Hong Kong International Dancesport Championship on April 28 included a demonstration by Jukka and Sirpa, the world Latin American Dance Champions. Presently, Dharshan is in England to attend the Blackpool Dance Festival. Blackpool UK Open Dancesport Championship is considered as the main Dancesport event of the year. Dancers from all over the world gather in Winter Gardens Ballroom in Blackpool, England for the week long Championships.

The whole city becomes a festival where one will see the dancers walking in streets with costumes, guest houses and hotels are packed with spectators and competitors.
Judging at International Dance Competitions is not an easy task says Dharshan. Sometimes there are 18 couples on the floor and have to select 12 for the semi finals. Six finalists will be selected out of 12 semi-finalists. The time duration for a dance is approx. 2 minutes. With the large number of contestants taking part, these competitions start in the morning and run till midnight.

The adjudicators will be on duty from morning till night. For Dharshan, the most interesting part of the visits are meeting the world famous dancers. He has got the opportunity of meeting most of the top dance couples in the world and it is interesting to know that they are keenly interested in Sri Lankan dancing.

Dharshan is a founder member of the Asia Dancesport Council, which is based in Hong Kong. This council helps its member countries to develop and promote Dancesport and better understanding among the participants. With the help of Asia Dancesport Council, Dharshan plans to organize International Dance Competitions and dance workshops in the near future.

In Sri Lanka, Dharshan runs a dance school in Colombo called The Dance Academy and is the Managing Director of the leading Entertainment outfit - Footwork (Pvt) Ltd. He is also a one of the few event producers here who has handled many events with perfection.

Lankan Rasputin from Creators
The band Creators are the real creators in music these days. They mix Sri Lankan beats with western rhythms to generate the ethnic music, which is the 'in trend' in USA.
'Creators' have launched their new song called 'Rasputin Sri Lanka Style.'

It's the Rasputin song of Boney M. 'creators' with the sounds of thammettam, getabera, dandubera, together mixed with the music of Boney M. This song will be aired on Sun FM, and Gold FM. They will be hoping to release two more songs with different styles soon. Roshan Yehiya the leader of 'creators' has thanked DJ, Yuki, Chamika, Rajive de Silva of 'Take 1' studio, where they recorded the song and Ravi Bandu Vidyapathi for the help given. "Creators" comprises of five youngsters. Nineteen-year-old Roshan Yehiya is the leader of the group. He plays the flute. Ramesh Silva is another talented musician, who handles thammetama, getabera and davula. Harsha Perera handles guitar, violin and Dombera, Dinesh Perera plays the flute, horenava and bera. The only girl in the group Maria Leeyan handles vocals and she is expert on congo and drums.

Recently they did a recording with 'Brown Boogie Nation' at "Take 1" studio and the songs will be on air soon. "It's not just normal mix of only eastern and western music. We use the different instruments to create a special sound. The kind of sound that never leaves your system." The 'Creator's' hope to launch a CD in the near future.
"We are creating few more songs for the new CD and as soon as we complete, we hope to go to the studio,' Roshan explained.

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